A judge in the Brazilian state of São Paulo has ruled that gay and lesbian couples in civil unions will no longer have to apply to the courts to have their relationships "upgraded" to marriage, effectively legalizing same-sex marriage in the country's most populous state.

Sao Paulo state Judge Fernando Henrique Pinto ruled last week that state notaries will be required to register same-sex marriages without first getting court approval.

As lawmakers prepare to bring same-sex marriage legislation up for vote in the Illinois General Assembly early next month, a group of conservative religious organizations have formed a coalition against the bill.

At least nine organizations have joined what has been dubbed the Coalition to Protect Children and Marriage, including the Illinois Family Institute, the Thomas More Society and Catholic Citizens of Illinois, the groups announced Tuesday.

LOS ANGELES -- Point Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit, has opened this year's scholarship application process.

Students who will be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs for the 2013-14 school year are eligible to apply for the prestigious, multi-year scholarships. Applicants will have until 11:59 pm PST on Jan. 14, 2013 to submit Part I of the application. Qualifying applicants will be invited to then submit Part II of the application.

(Editor’s note: The United Nations will mark World Human Rights Day with a star-studded event that can be viewed at 3:15 pm ET/12:15 PT via the web. Click HERE to watch the ceremonies and to see openly gay superstar Ricky Martin, legendary South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, an outspoken defender of LGBT and human rights.